Liverpool's M&S Bank Arena was brought to a standstill for a surprise appearance on Saturday afternoon. Crowds came to a halt outside the arena as a Barry Manilow lookalike stole the spotlight before the show even began.
Barry Manilow Impersonator Wayne Denton
Thousands of fans gathered to watch music legend Barry Manilow perform tonight, but an unexpected appearance by his doppelganger, Wayne Denton, captivated the crowd. Wayne, who performs professionally as a Barry Manilow impersonator and stars in the theatre production Celebrating Barry, held an impromptu meet and greet outside the venue.
Decked out in a replica of Barry's famous 'Copacabana (At the Copa)' stage jacket, Wayne met fans and snapped photos while they waited to enter the arena.
Barry Manilow's Health and Tour
Barry is best known for hits like 'Mandy,' 'Copacabana (At the Copa),' and 'I Wanna Do It With You.' He released a new studio album, What a Time, on June 5, marking his first album of predominantly original songs in nearly 15 years. Barry is now set to perform in Liverpool tonight, despite recently cancelling shows for his Las Vegas residency due to lung surgery recovery. In January, he pushed the dates back again, saying he needed more time to recover before returning to the stage.
Thankfully, the singer appears to be back in good health after the first show of the UK tour kicked off in Glasgow without a hitch. While he was getting ready to perform in Liverpool, his lookalike stole the show outside the arena.
Concert Schedule and Support Acts
Doors open for Barry Manilow at 6pm. The support act will take to the stage at 7.30pm followed by a brief interval at 8pm. Barry is scheduled to perform at 8.20pm with a curfew call for 11pm.
Barry has welcomed a number of support acts on the tour across his career. Regulars include jazz stars Curtis Stigers and Dave Koz, and even comedians Jimmy Tarbuck, Gordie Brown and Bradley Walsh. Comedian Dennis Blaire was confirmed as Barry's supporting act for the UK shows.
New Album What a Time
The new album, What a Time, marks his 33rd studio album, following 2011's 15 Minutes. Take That's Gary Barlow is credited as a co-writer on the new feel-good track 'Sun Shine'. The album also features collaborations with singer Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds, nine-time Grammy winner Dave Cobb, and co-writers Bruce Sussman and Adrienne Anderson. The record features 13 tracks and is available to pre-order on CD and vinyl, and pre-save on streaming.
